Our World: Peace as a Globally Interdependent Goal

Our World: Peace as a Globally Interdependent Goal

Riana Hardin Senior Capstone

Concentration: Peace Studies Project Type: Internship

Capstone Professor: Dr. Josina Makau Division of Humanities and Communication

Chilean sunset in Valparaíso, Chile August 2010.

i

Dedication

I dedicate this project to not only my parent, who have been with me every step of my

journey towards becoming the person that I am today, but also to those who have a loud me to

foster a passion for the human condition. This project could not have been possible without those

that have seen me at my worst and still believed in me: I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

To my neighbors and friends who have taught me to be a person full of integrity and just how

lucky I am to be alive.

This project is dedicated to the teachers that taught me to cherish the contributions of

every human being. I would not be who I am today without my Middle School Principle Dr.

Duane Coleman who first inspired my dedication to helping others flourish. To Dr. David Hall

and Dr. Jeanne Jones, who gave me the tools to break down prejudice and celebrate diversity.

Lastly, I dedicate the culmination of my college work to the wonderful professors in the

Department of Humanities and Communication. It was through your courses that I became

inspired to create a more peaceful world that fosters understanding and appreciation for all

cultures and creeds. I can honestly say that each and every course that I have taken in Human

Communications, has enhanced my understanding of the world and its people.

ii

Acknowledgement

I have been blessed with so many wonderful people, coming into my life and teaching me

invaluable lessons on what it means to live a fulfilled life. To those who are no longer with me,

my Grandpa Bill and Grandpa Bob: you taught me that it is never too late to have a laugh and

enjoy life’s simplicities. To my Grandma Sann: you always did have faith in me and my dreams.

You showed me that people come into our lives for a reason and that it is never too late to love

with your whole heart. Thank you for helping me to become the person I am today.

To my family, thank you for encouraging me to pursue my dreams and not let my

limitations stand in my way. To my sister Kayla: thank you for never seeing me as weak and

pushing me to do my best.

I would like to acknowledge my Advisor, Dr. Ilene Feinman, for encouraging my

activism and drawing me into the Peace Studies concentration. Your council has been invaluable

to me.

It is because of my service learning at Rancho Cielo and the Monterey Peace and Justice

Center, that my passions for cultivating a sense of worth in the future generations have been

born.

Lastly, thank you reader, for taking the time to examine my project and beliefs on Human

Flourishing in a Globally Inter-Dependent world.

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Table of Contents

1. Dedication …………………………………………………..

i

2. Acknowledgement …………………………………………………

ii

3. Internship Contract …………………………………………………

1

4. Internship Log Part One: Hours …………………………………………………

3

5. Internship Log Part two: Journals …………………………………………………

6

6. Internship Log Part Three:

Reflection

…………………………………………………

15

7. Internship Evaluation

Part One

Part Two:

Recommendations

…………………………………………………

……………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………..

21

21 24

s

8. Resume ………………………………………………..

25

9. Work Cited ………………………………………………..

28

10. Appendix ………………………………………………..

30

Reflections on

Human Flourishing …...................................................................................

31

Capstone Speech

…...................................................................................

37

Our World Brochure

…………………………………………………..

40

iv

Monterey Reggae Fest

Exhibition Fest ‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

42

v

HCOM Senior Capstone Experience Internship Contract

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi

A daisy in a tree at a former work camp under Pinoche. Santiago, Chile, September 2010

vi

Hinduism This is the sum of duty; do naught onto

others what you would not have them do unto

you.

Mahabharata 5,1517

1

HCOM Senior Capstone Experience Internship Contract

Student Name: Riana Hardin

Total Hours: 30-60

Description:

As an Intern at Our World Peace Park, I explored one model that is utilized to promote

Peace and cooperation. Our World Peace Park is a non-profit organization that focuses on

dispelling prejudice and discrimination through such tools as education. Our World’s vision is to

create an authentic representation of the world’s cultures and display it for society to participate

in. In addition to my primary duties, I researched the philosophies behind peace parks and dug

into the history of tranfrontier conservation areas and the formation of Peace Parks Foundation.

Primary Duties of Internship:

1. Review the existing documents and information on Our World 2. Organize existing research and information regarding the creation of a Peace Park. 3. Research grants available to fund Our World Peace Park. 4. Gain the skills to write effective grants. 5. Recruit other volunteers and organizations to participate in a mini representation of the

world to be displayed in the spring. 6. Research possible venders and donors for Our World.

2

Minimum requirements:

With consultation of capstone instructor, you locate an appropriate internship site Complete a minimum of 30 hours related to the substance of your internship duties Identify a site supervisor who will verify in a formal letter your work associated with the

internship Maintain a log of your activities (about 200 words for each time you work at the site) to

be included in your reports and portfolio Complete all required project reports and paperwork in a timely manner1.

1 At the end of the internship, please have your supervisor write a short letter confirming your completion of the

required hours and providing a brief assessment of your work with the organization.

3

HCOM Senior Capstone Experience Internship Log

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” — Eleanor Roosevelt

Small yellow flowers at Isla Negra, home of Pablo Neruda. Isla Negra, Chile, September 2010

4

Buddhism Hurt not others in ways that you yourself

would find hurtful.

Udana-Varga 5,1

5

HCOM Senior Capstone Experience Internship Log

Student Name: Riana Hardin

Total Hours: 30-60

Internship Description:

As an Intern at Our World Peace Park, I explored one model that is utilized to promote

Peace and cooperation. Our World Peace Park is a non-profit organization that focuses on

dispelling prejudice and discrimination through such tools as education. Our World’s vision is to

create an authentic representation of the world’s cultures and display it for society to participate

in. In addition to my primary duties, I researched the philosophies behind peace parks and dug

into the history of tranfrontier conservation areas and the formation of Peace Parks Foundation.

Internship Site Supervisor: __Marvin Cohen____________

PART ONE: ASSIGNMENTS

This part of the log should indicate the dates and hours you worked at the site. In

addition, each entry (for each date) should provide a brief overview of your assignment for the date.

September Hours

Date Hours Worked Assignment(s) 2 September 2011 2PM-4PM

2 hours Initial meeting with Mr. Cohen to go over my role for Our World Peace Park.

14 September 2011 9:00 AM-11:30AM 2.5 hours

Orientation of my work space and the office.

25 September 2011 1:00PM-3:00PM 2 hours

Online research of grants available in the Monterey area.

26 September 2011 9:30AM-2:30PM 5 hours

Organized work area and alphabetized files.

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28 September 2011 9:30AM-1:30PM 4 hours

Filed Paperwork and looked into grant writing workshop at the Seaside Library.

Total 15.5 hours October Hours

5 October 20011 10:00AM-1:30PM 3.5 hours

Filed Paperwork and drafted e-mail out to previous and prospective volunteers.

8 October 2011 10:30AM-12:30PM 2 hours

Attended a workshop at the seaside library on their grant maker database.

12 October 2011 9:30 AM-1:30 PM 4 hours

Checked e-mail and researched grants available in the Monterey Area.


Checked e-mail, worked on creating an excel spread sheet for volunteers.

19 October 2011 9:30 AM-11:30 AM 2 hours








Total 24.5 hours

7

November Hours

2 November 2011 9:30 AM-11:30 PM 2 hours

Conducted researched other Peace Parks.


Checked and responded to e-mails. Conducted researched other Peace Parks.





30 November 2011 10:00 AM-2:00 PM 4hours


Total 17 hours

December Hours

1o December 2011 10:00 AM-2:00 PM 4hours

Completed Excel Workbook for contacts for Our World.

12 December 2011 10:00 AM-2:00 PM 4hours

Total 8 hours

Grand Total 65 hours

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HCOM Senior Capstone Experience Internship Log Part II: Journal Responses

“The saddest person in the world is someone who has sight but has no vision.”

— Helen Keller

Sunset Viña del Mar, Chile. November 2010

9

Confucianism Do not do to others what you would not

like yourself. Then there will be no

resentment against you, either in the

family or in the state.

Analects 12:2

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PART TWO: LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND RELATED REFLECTIONS

This section should include five to eight dated entries (anywhere from one to three

weeks apart, depending upon the richness of learning made possible through your work

throughout the term). Each entry should specify the dates covered by the entry, and should

include a 150-250 word account of your learning experiences during the time period, including

responses to one or more of the following prompts:

What insights did your experiences during the specified time frame afford you regarding

your strengths and limitations in one or more of the areas featured by the assessment criteria

and standards delineated on pp. 9-11 of the syllabus? What insights, if any, did you gain

regarding your personal interests, passions, and goals? How did your experiences help to

inform your understanding of our shared area of inquiry (human flourishing in a globally

interdependent world)? What other insights did you gain while fulfilling your assigned

responsibilities during the specified time frame?

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2 September 2011

Journal Entry # 1

I am very excited to start working with Our World Peace Park. Today I had a meeting

with Marvin Cohen, the organization’s Executive Director, to go over his expectations for me

and my responsibilities as an intern.

I was intrigued by the idea of a large scale park as a means to promote peace. I have

previously worked with the Peace and Justice Center for my upper division service learning and

was intrigued in continuing my understanding of the movements for peace and the different

forms which they take. I looked into interning at the Peace and Justice Center, but unfortunately

that endeavor did not work out. I found Our World through conducting an on-line search for the

different peace seeking organizations in Monterey. I was interested in learning how this

particular approach works in promoting peace keeping.

Our World is a non-profit organization with that is working to promote cultural

awareness and understanding through educations. Through community events that work to

celebrate and represent all cultures in the world: our hope is to encourage a cross cultural

understanding of the human experience through promoting human dignity for all cultures. The

ultimate vision is to create a park that functions to promote education and celebration of the

world’s cultures and peoples.

It is my understanding that as an intern at Our World Peace Park is to organize the

existing information that we have through creating a file system. I will also be in charge of

contacting past and prospective volunteers to recruit them for working on this vision. I will also

be responsible for gaining skills in grant writing to seek funding for this organization. It is

through attending workshops and conducting research in the field of grant writing that I will

gain valuable skills for future jobs.

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26 September 2011

Journal Entry #2

As I was on the bus, headed to my internship, I was reflecting on the reading of the Dalia

Lama. So often, in our lives we tend to get so caught up in the mundane, trivial aspects of life:

neglecting our spiritual health and happiness. There is no one fix-it all answer to what makes a

good life: the answer changes for each person and personality. All the same, there are some basic

understanding to being a just human by promoting an understanding of the human experience.

By upholding human dignity for all cultures and creeds, we can begin to aid the suffering in the

world.

As the Dalia Lama states in Ethics for a New Millennium: “genuine happiness is

characterized by inner peace and arises in the context of our relationships with others” (99).

What stands in the way of our relationships with others flourishing into productive bonds is the

ignorance of their cultures. Ignorance, in turn, is at the root of anger and disagreements between

countries, which can lead to wars and other brutalities.

In the Tibetan medical system, anger is also seen as the cause of all ailments, as it throws

off our inner peace the longer we insist on holding on to it. Our only hope at promoting human

flourishing is through education and understanding of different cultures. Hopefully, Our World

can be one of the venues to achieve this goal.

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5 October 2011

Journal Entry #3

In addition to my work today at my internship, I reflected about the skills that are

beneficial in having, not only in the field of Peace Studies and International Relations, but in

general what employers are looking for in the job market.

This weekend, I will be going to a workshop at the Seaside branch of the Monterey

County Library to attend a workshop on grant writing. There are so many skills that go into

grant writing and I can’t wait to learn more about the skills needed to write successful grants.

Grant writing is an important venue for nonprofits to gain money for their projects.

Being able to write successful grants will help me to obtain a job and present a more versatile list

of skill sets on my resume that will appeal to prospective employers.

Attending this workshop sparked my interest in expanding my skills to include grant

writing. I think that this is a good skill set to have and that it will improve my résumé and

qualifications for jobs in my field of interest. Though I am not interested in monetary gain or

economics, this workshop helped me to realize the value in searching for collaboration with

other organizations offering funding for our projects.

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12 October 2011

Journal Entry #4

In order to learn more about the international grassroots movement to respond with peace

practices in wake of tragedy, I decided to research international peace parks and the histories

behind them.

The first peace park was erected in Scandinavia, along the border of Sweden and Norway

in 1914 to commemorate a century of peace between the two nations.

On my initial search I found one in Seattle, Washington “which was the dream of Dr.

Floyd Schmoe, who after winning the Hiroshima Peace Prize in 1998 used the $5,000 prize

money to clear a small lot near the University of Washington. From a pile of wrecked cars,

garbage, and brush, he worked with community volunteers to build the beautiful Peace Park. The

Peace Park is the current home of the Sadako and the Thousand Cranes sculpture, created in

1990 by artist Daryl Smith. The statue is a life-size bronze of Sadako Sasaki, the young Japanese

girl who survived the Hiroshima bombing only to die of radiation sickness at age 12” (Seattle

Parks and Recreation).

There are two Peace Parks in Japan located in Hiroshima and Nagasaki commemorating

those who lost their lives in the atomic bombs.

The fourth park that I looked at was in Korea called My Lai the park was built to

commemorate the My Lai massacre on its 30th anniversary (1998).

I am intrigued by the idea that there are other international parks devoted to cultivating

peace through education. I conducted further research on them in hopes that my findings would

strengthen my internship.

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19 October 2011

Journal Entry #5

Based on the pages 9-11 of the syllabus, I would say that that I have fulfilled the

requirements of the internship project. Not only have I made sure to have all of my paperwork

turned in on time, I have also enhanced my understanding of not only the possibilities that are

available in the field of peace studies, but I have also learned about my strengths and

weaknesses in the professional world.

I realized that I work well when I am in direct contact with people. I am good at sparking

interest and getting people invested into my vision. I work well with others so long as I am not

expected to do all of the work by myself. When I don’t have projects or access to my supervisor, I

can get overwhelmed and stressed, feeling like it is my responsibility to conquer everything.

I have been so overwhelmed with the prospect that I have to be the one to finish the

peace park by myself. As a result, I decided t tackle what I thought was feasible in my short time.

This included digitizing the e-mail and phone contacts, Drafting support/volunteer letters to

generate involvement into the peace park.

I have also been able to learn a little about grant writing. It is an important skill that I

would like to utilize to strengthen my career.

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28 October 2011

Journal Entry #6

While on the bus today, I was reading the Dalai Lama’s Ethics For a New Millennium, I

came across a few passages that really struck with me. I found that the fallowing passages

helped to enlighten me in understanding the goals of Our World and become more invested in

their mission.

On page 177, the Dalai Lama urges us to realize that the future of our world is in the

hands of our children. If we do not invest in them by instilling a sense of worth and upholding

values like compassion for peoples of all cultures and ethnicities, then we have no hope for

survival. If we wish to bring about a more just society, then we must foster such values as caring

and responsibility for the wellbeing of others. It is our responsibility to open their eyes to the

needs and rights of all of the world’s citizens. His Holiness goes on to further suggest that unless

our policies adopt a sense of compassion, we are likely to suffer as a whole.

We all possess a universal responsibility to education, the media, our natural

environment, politics and economics, peace and disarmament and interreligious harmony. I see

Our World, as well as other peace parks around the world as having a vital role in achieving

these goals. It is through education and human interaction that we hope to improve our

international relations. We can only begin to achieve world peace when we open our hearts to

understanding other cultures and peoples of the world.

“Injustice undermines truth, and without truth there can be no lasting peace” (206).

The Dalia Lama suggest that “Zones of Peace” be established in our global economy that

would serve as examples for the rest of the world. I would argue that peace parks can and do

serve as a part of this purpose. Peace parks are meant to be transboundry and transnational

establishments to cultivate cooperation and communication.

“Given human being’s love of truth, justice, peace, and freedom, creating a better, more

compassionate world is a genuine possibility” (217).

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Our happiness is inextricably bound by the happiness of others, even if there is suffering

taking part in another part of the world: we feel the effects. It is naïve to believe that we in

America do not feel the struggles for labor rights in Egypt or that we are not affected by the civil

wars in the Middle East; because the truth is: we experience them every day. Humans by nature

are empathic beings. We do not take pleasure in seeing others suffer.

It is because of this basic truth that I believe that everyone has the responsibility to act

with an ethical consciousness. As the Dalia Lama points out, this does not necessarily require us

all to adapt to a lifestyle observed by such leaders as Mahatma Gandhi or Martin Luther King,

but rather, he calls for us to, through our passions and our sphere of influence do our best to

care and engage others.

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HCOM Senior Capstone Experience Internship Log Part III: Internship Reflection

“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt

them.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/570218.Dalai_Lama_XIV

19

Confucianism Do not do to others what you would not

like yourself. Then there will be no

resentment against you, either in the

family or in the state.

Analects 12:2

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Our World: Peace as a Globally Interdependent Goal Reflection

In order for a society to flourish and positively contribute lasting change to the human

experience, each individual must feel valued. Often, in the presents of multiculturalism, we are

liable to impose our own values and assumptions on another culture, whose values and

assumptions do not align with our own. It is through this miss placed ethnocentrism that we fail

to truly comprehend others, as we foster anger and aggression for what we do not understand.

Anger and aggression, in the global context is at the root cause of all humanitarian violations

such as genocide, wars and international occupations. Without an understanding of another’s

culture, we are left in the dark of how to effectively communicate in a globally interdependent

world.

In order to promote human flourishing on a globally interdependent level, we must

educate ourselves and others about different cultures and work to understand the different values

which they hold. In His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s book Ethics for a New Millennium, the

Dalai Lama declares that “genuine happiness is characterized by inner peace and arises in the

context of our relationships with others” (99). Thus, what stands in the way of our relationships

with others flourishing into productive bonds is the ignorance of their cultures. Ignorance, in

turn, is one of the roots of anger and disagreements between countries, which can lead to wars

and other brutalities.

It was with this understanding that I chose to intern at Our World: a Peace Park, a

nonprofit organization built on dispelling prejudice through education. The purpose of my

internship was to examine one of the many pathways to promoting human flourishing through

education and answering the ongoing question of how to become more accepting and

22

understanding of different peoples and customs, in order to function in an increasingly globally

interconnected world.

In addition to my responsibilities at Our World, I conducted my own independent

research what a peace park is and who were the principle players in their creation. Though the

first peace park was founded in 1914 to commemorate the centennial of peace between Norway

and Sweden (Fredsplassens), it was not until the later part of the twentieth century that peace

truly gained world recognition.

Thus, it is recognized that road to the multitude of international peace parks began when

1990 when Anton Rupert, the President of WWF South Africa had a meeting with

Mozambique’s President Joaquim Chissano regarding establishing a permanent link between

protected areas in Mozambique and their counterparts in South Africa. According to the Peace

Parks Foundation website, a peace park is defined as “Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA)

(or peace parks), were defined as relatively large areas that straddle frontiers between two or

more countries and cover large-scale natural systems encompassing one or more protected

areas..” (“Origins of Peace Park Foundation”) After the meeting, Chissano and Rupert solicited

the World Bank for funding; however, the World Bank stipulated that a study be conducted as to

the validity of the need for peace parks in South Africa. As such, the study was conducted in

1991. Unfortunately, due to South Africa’s political turmoil at the time, it was not possible to

devote sufficient efforts to establishing and maintaining TFCAs and the project was left dormant.

After the end of the Apartheid and the election of Nelson Mandela in 1996, Dr. Anton

Rupert revisited the idea of TFCA and was granted the financial support from the World Bank in

1996. As South African Tourism and international interest in the concept of peace parks grew, it

became apparent that additional funding would be necessary in order to sustain the project. Thus,

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the Peace Parks Foundation was formed on 1 February 1997 with the initial grant of Ri,2 million

(the equivalent of US $260,000) (“Origins of Peace Park Foundation”).

Since the inception of Peace Parks Foundation, Peace Parks have been established all

around the world, sparking the need for international entities to collaborate with PPF for optimal

impact. According to the Global Transboundary Conservation Network, which became the

overseer of PPF:“Transboundary protected areas that are formally dedicated to the protection

and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and to

the promotion of peace and co-operation”. It is through this definition that parks for peace were

established

Through my work with Our World, I gained a better understanding of the professional

opportunities available in the field of Peace Studies. I explored the different approaches utilized

in promoting social change. Often, movements for social change sprout from the realization that

there is a need not being met or a group of people who are being marginalized. This begs the

question of how do we insure that human rights are being upheld. Eleanor Roosevelt so wisely

questioned what lay the foundation for universal human rights: “Where, after all, do universal

human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be

seen on any maps of the world ... Such are the places where every man, woman and child seeks

equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have

meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere.” One of the places that I have had the

privilege of working at, sought to do just that by instilling hope and value into the hearts and

minds of children touched by gang violence.

I have been fortunate enough, through my lower division Service Learning, to work at

Rancho Cielo, which is an alternative high school for students who are at risk of imprisonment as

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a result of the California Three Strikes Law. That experience opened my eyes to the untapped

possibilities for change and progress that are lost because children are neglected and left to be

swallowed up in the juvenile court system and later the adult prison system. Somewhere along

the way youth offenders were not shown that they deserve dignity and have the possibility to

create wonderful change. Because the revolving door of the justice system saw families locked

away, former Superior Court Judge John M. Phillips decided to turn an abandoned lot in the

foothills of Salinas into a place where students could learn in a safe environment, as well as gain

technical skills to help them to have a future after they graduated. Working with Rancho Cielo, I

discovered a passion for youth rights and just how important it is to value the potential that each

child possesses.

I was able to further explore youth rights and dignity as a part of my Upper division

Service Learning, which focused on topics of social movements, I worked with the Monterey

Peace Resource Center on a project examining the alternatives to incarceration of youth that are

utilized in Monterey County. We visited a variety of sites, including, the Silver Star Resource

Center, which provides a wide range of programs, from early truancy programs to combat the

early signs of gang activity, to classes to obtain the GED, to counseling, Silver Star is a place

that is devoted to serving the community’s needs; Juvenile Hall, the Salinas Police Department

and their Cease Fire program: which brings together community officials and law enforcement

with convicted repeat offenders, in hopes that by reaching out to the offenders as human beings,

they can inspire them to change and flourish in the community; as well as Rancho Cielo. By

visiting this small representation of the different programs and organizations in the Monterey

area, I was able to get a taste of strengths and weaknesses of each and how they contributed to

human flourishing in society at large. This in turn, helped me to evaluate the effectiveness of

25

each approach and determine what the Peace Resource Center’s role in the community should be

in regards to youth rights.

Unlike previous work that I have done through outreach programs at Rancho Cielo and

Monterey Peace Resource Center, Our World utilized a non-traditional approach to achieving

social awareness through a mainstream venue of an amusement park. Though scholars argued the

ineffectiveness of this approach, I have found that some benefits to this approach include the

ability to reach a larger audience. It was the wish of Our World’s founder to create a place to

celebrate the contributions that each culture has on humanity’s flourishing. Mr. Cohen has been

able to reach across geographic boundaries that have previously prevented a collective

transnational dialog from taking place. Thanks to technology, Our World has an e-mail list that

reaches as far as Morocco. Though there is a possibility of this approach falling into the all too

common caricature of culture which only reinforces stereotypes, my hope is that Our World will

not fall into that trap. By connecting with actual agencies and organizations around the world,

Our World hopes to dispel cultural stereotypes through presenting authentic representations of

the people of the world.

In general, I found that my chosen internship experience and performance was easily

aligned with the published criteria and standards for a final senior capstone class. This internship

allowed me to tap into the cumulative knowledge from my years at California State University,

Monterey Bay. Through my internship with Our World Peace Park, I gained skills and

understanding on all of the different important factors that contribute to non-profit humanitarian

organizations. Through the workshop on grant writing for non-profits, I gained a better

understanding on how non-profits generate funding through grant writers. I decided that grant

26

writing is a valuable skill worth pursuing. Perhaps I will put my writing skills to use through

becoming a certified grant writer.

The documentation of my hours and subsequent journal entries, I was able to explore the

function of a peace park in the broader spectrum of society. I compared different models of a

peace park used in various parts of the world with the plans for the peace park in Monterey

County and drew critical conclusions on what model would be best suited for Monterey County.

The additional research that I conducted to gain a better understanding of what a peace park is

shed light on the global movement to respond to injustice with nonviolence and education. I

realized that there were more possibilities at my disposal in regards to my professional career

than I had originally thought. The format of logging my hours and writing journals to reflect on

my experience was a helpful tool to understanding my experiences and reflecting on the

strengths and weaknesses of this approach.

A social movement can morph into many different representations within society. The

social movements of peace parks began when people recognized that the needs of the

disenfranchised citizens of the world were not given the chance to flourish to their full potential

because of atrocities that forever altered their perception of life’s priorities. It is not conducive to

legitimist healing to foster anger and hatred towards those who oppress, but rather, in order to

flourish, one must channel the displacement and injustice towards promoting peace and the

wellbeing of humanity.

27

Our World: Peace as a Globally Interdependent Goal

Supervisor Letter

“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his

individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

A mosaic in a former women’s concentration work camp of Pinoche. Santiago,

Chile September 2010

28

Christianity All things whatsoever ye would that men

should do to you, do ye so to them; for this

is the law and the prophets.

Matthew 7:1

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HCOM Senior Capstone Experience

Internship Supervisor Evaluation

Intern’s Name: ____Riana Hardin_________________________

Site Supervisor: ___Marvin Cohen_________________________

Thank you for supporting the Division of Humanities and Communication senior capstone

experience through an internship with your organization. Please evaluate the intern’s performance by

responding to both sections (Parts One and Two) below. Please either submit your evaluation to the intern

or mail your responses to Dr. Josina Makau, The Division of Humanities and Communication, California

State University Monterey Bay, 100 Campus Center, Seaside CA 93955 no later than December 16, 2011.

PART ONE: Check the appropriate level of achievement in each of the assessment categories

below:

30

Taking initiative when appropriate ☑ Excellent

☐ Very Good

☐ Satisfactory

☐ Needs Improvement

Worked well with others in the organization ☑ Excellent

☐ Very Good

☐ Satisfactory


Was professional in demeanor ☑ Excellent

☐ Very Good

☐ Satisfactory


Was an effective team player ☑ Excellent

☐ Very Good

☐ Satisfactory


Acted responsibly with clients and or

stakeholders of the organization

☑ Excellent

☐ Very Good

☐ Satisfactory


Responded effectively to critiques and/or

suggestions from supervisor(s)

☑ Excellent

☐ Very Good

31

☐ Satisfactory


Work produced for internship was of high

quality

☑ Excellent

☐ Very Good

☐ Satisfactory


Work produced for internship met the needs

of the organization

☑ Excellent

☐ Very Good

☐ Satisfactory


C

34

Resume

“If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships – the ability of

all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace.”

~ Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt

“World-peace. Reed, Holly.”

35

Judaism What is hateful to you, do not do to your

fellowman. This is the entire Law; all the rest

is commentary.

Talmud, Shabbat 3id

36

Current: Permanent: Contact Information: 3116 Inter-Garrison 1105 Oceanic Dr. Strawberry Apartments 309A Encinitas, CA 92024

Seaside, CA 93955

Phone (760)420-0280 E-mail [email protected]

Objective and

Career Goals

Objective: To obtain vital team building and communication skills that

will be beneficial in not only my career as an HCOM major but also in my

chosen field of work.

Career Goal: I hope to use the knowledge and skills that I gain to help

build the necessary experience to advocate for international human rights by

working with companies like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Education

California State University Monterey Bay August 2006-Present

B.A. in Human Communications

Emphasis:

Peace Studies

Minor:

Spanish Language and Hispanic Culture

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso

August 2010-November 2010

Español y Cultura Chilena

Academic Seminars

1 October 2011 Attended leadership conference on “Being an Everyday

Hero”

January 2009 Selected to represent CSUMB at an academic seminar

hosted by the Washington Center in Washington DC.

2009 CSUMB Leadership Conference



Volunteer

Experience

Fall 2009 Volunteered at Monterey Peace and Justice Center in Marina,

CA.

2008 Volunteered at Rancho Ceilo, an alternative high school in Salinas,

CA, 2006 Volunteered on Francine Busby’s 2006 US congressional campaign

Encinitas, CA.

37

Campus Clubs Founder of Student Awareness for Disability Empowerment

Member of The Environmental Committee Club

Member of Student Support Services

Member of Democratic Club

Founding Member for the Residential Housing Association

Work experience May 2011- December Student Disability Resources at Cal State

University Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA

Access Assistant for Special Projects

My duties included, reviewing existing materials such as video tapes and

documents in our office that pertained to disability issues and rights. I worked on

projects involving student outreach and built campus connections with other

departments. Worked with the student group for students with disabilities to host

a disability panel on campus for Disability Awareness Month in October.

Attended a leadership conference to strengthen my skills.

August 2008-May 2010 Residential Life at Cal State University

Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA

Residential Adviser

I support the residents on my floor and make sure that they abide by the

community standards set forth by the Residential Housing. I work to maintain a

safe environment for my residents. I also promote campus involvement and

encourage them to try new experiences.

August 2008-May 2010 Residential Life at California State University

Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA

Student Assistant of the Residential Life

I answer phone calls and questions regarding on campus housing. I also

distribute packages to those who came in to pick them up. I file paperwork and

work on projects pertaining to campus housing.

October 2006-April 2007 Student Disability Recourses at Cal State University

Monterey Bay; Seaside, CA

Dragon NaturallySpeaking Specialist

Trained my client how to utilize Dragon NaturallySpeaking in all

programs and understand the different upgrades in the newer version of the

program. Also, to help my client learn how to use all of Dragon

NaturallySpeaking’s tools properly.

38

Work Cited

"Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Website." 広島平和記念資料館WEB SITE. Hiroshima

Peace Memorial Museum, 2000-2011. Web. 07 Dec. 2011.

<http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/top_e.html>.

"Our World." Our World - Peace Park. Our World - Peace Park, 15 Jan. 2007. Web. 07 Dec.

2011. <http://www.owpp.org/html/our_world.htm>.

.Madison Quakers, Inc. My Lai Peace Park Project. Madison Quakers, Inc., 2006. Web. 07 Dec.

2011. <http://www.mylaipeacepark.org/>.

City of Seattle. "Peace Park." Seattle.gov Home Page - The Official Web Site for the City of

Seattle, Washington. City of Seattle, 1995-2011. Web. 07 Dec. 2011.

<http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=4029>.

Fredsplassens Venner. "Monument." Fredsplatsens Vänner. The Norwegian Peace Association.

Web. 11 Dec. 2011. <http://www.fredsmonumentet.com/monumentet.html>.

Global Transboundary Conservation Network. Global Transboundary Protected Areas Network.

Global Transboundary Conservation Network, 2011. Web. 07 Dec. 2011.

<http://www.tbpa.net/>.

Hardin, John. World Peace_02. Digital image. Like You've Got Something Better to Do. 1 Nov.

2011. Web. 26 Oct. 2011. <http://lygsbtd.wordpress.com/tag/school/>.

Nagasaki City | Peace & Atomic Bomb | English Page. Nagasaki City, 2009. Web. 07 Dec. 2011.

<http://www1.city.nagasaki.nagasaki.jp/peace/index_e.html>.

Our World Peace Park. Owwpp_logo_smallcorner02. Digital image. Our World. Our World

Peace Park, 15 Jan. 2007. Web. 26 Oct. 2011.

<http://www.owpp.org/html/our_world.htm>.

39

Outside Future. World-peace. Digital image. World Peace. Outside Future, 6 Sept. 2011. Web.

26 Oct. 2011. <http://outsidefuture.com/articles/world-peace/>.

Peace Parks Foundation - The Global Solution. Peace Parks Foundation, 1997-2011. Web. 07

Dec. 2011. <http://www.peaceparks.org/>.

Peacesign.jpg. Digital image. Largest Human Peace Sigh. World Record Academy, 22 June

2008. Web. 26 Oct. 2011.

<http://www.worldrecordsacademy.org/biggest/largest_human_peace_sign-

world_record_set_by_the_Ithaca_Festival_80267.htm>.

Reed, Holly. World-peace. Digital image. Holly's Hobbies. 28 Sept. 2010. Web. 26 Oct. 2011.

<http://www.hollyreed.com/?p=963>.

Zilwa, Obed. Great Moments in History. 1996. Photograph. Flickr. Web. 14 Dec. 2011.

<http://www.flickr.com/photos/kkendall/3293389888/>

40

Appendix

11. Appendix ………………………………………………..

30

Reflections on

Human Flourishing …...................................................................................

31

Capstone Speech

…...................................................................................

37

Our World Brochure

…………………………………………………..

40

Monterey Reggae Fest

Exhibition Fest ‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

42

41

HCOM Senior Capstone Experience Course Reflection Essay

“The world has never truly had to develop an ethic of interdependence rooted in our common

humanity. And if we do it, the 21st century will be the most interesting, exciting, peaceful era in

history.”

~ Former President Bill Clinton

“In-between Heaven and Earth ” Taken on 16 October 2011 at Lake El Estero by Riana Hardin

42

Reflection on Human Flourishing

The concept of human flourishing is as old as Aristotle and has undergone many different

transformations depending on a culture’s own values and assumptions. Though the pathway to

human flourishing may differ depending on a particular culture’s value hierarchy, His Holiness

the Dalai Lama XIV begins Ethics for the New Millennium by suggesting that as a collective

species, we each strive to live a meaningful life full of purpose and free from suffering. With this

in mind, we can begin to build a universal ethic.

Human flourishing is therefore, the ability for one to fulfill their own sense of purpose in

their community and in turn, the world. To truly flourish, one must feel safe and secure: free to

express themselves in any way that they wish, so long as it does not impede on another’s chance

to flourish. Human flourishing suggests that one is able to uphold and achieve the values that are

most important to them, such as security and avoiding suffering.

In the 21st century, human flourishing can take form in many different aspects of our

lives. On the micro level, human flourishing cannot take place where anger and resentment are

upheld. The angrier a person is for a long period of time leads to that individual losing sight of

what is important to them, thus not being able to be happy or enjoy the good in their life because

they are focused on the negative.

On the macro level, governments can promote human flourishing by creating and

supporting policies that promote the realization of our interdependence on other cultures and

countries. The Dalai Lama urges us to realize that as our economic relationships become

increasingly interdependent, so too must our political relationships reflect this. We are

increasingly dependent on other countries for our economic and social success. Our policies must

43

reflect this. We as humans have a natural impulse to join together for the common good, this, in

turn reflects the continuing evolution of human society (198).

In today’s society, I imagine that human flourishing is present whenever we work

together for the common good by fostering mutual respect for one another. When people decide

to follow their dreams and passions or let go of anger that they are harboring against others and

themselves; they are actively seeking the possibility of flourishing.

It is through compassion and away from aggression that human flourishing takes flight.

We must practice compassion and empathy for our fellow human beings in order to even hope to

preserve our species. Throughout history, people of different faith traditions have turned to

religion and its leaders for guidance on what constitutes a good life. Without any kind of

communication with each other, they all independently concluded, in one version or another of

what Americans know as the golden rule. I find it extremely fascinating that people, separated by

seas, time and language barriers were able to independently reach the same conclusion that by

treating others with worth and dignity, you are cultivating worth and dignity within yourself. The

Dalai Lama sums it up rather nicely: “All human beings, whatever their cultural or historical

background, suffer when they are intimidated, imprisoned or tortured…We must therefore, insist

on a global consciousness, not only on the need to respect human rights worldwide, but also on

the definition of these rights…for it is the inherent nature of all human beings to yearn for

freedom, equality and dignity, and they have an equal right to achieve that.”

Already, government agencies and organizations are realizing that their goals and

interests are better served through collaboration. This is shown through government bodies such

as the European Union, as well as doctrines such as the Universal Doctrine of Human Rights;

that we are realizing our interdependence and fostering pockets of flourishing. With

44

organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Red Cross, fighting

to promote the wellbeing of all humans, we are moving to give more people the opportunity to

flourish.

I would argue that it is impossible to promote human flourishing while still relying on

weapons to settle our disagreements. We must practice cooperative argumentation to build a

solid foundation for collaboration. Along those lines, I agree with the Dalai Lama’s call for

nuclear disarmament in chapter 14, which begins on page 201. Nuclear weapons only foster fear

instead of security. Fear, in turn creates a mentality that makes flourishing impossible to achieve.

We live in a limbo, where there is an ever present fear of someone attacking us. How can we

expect to call for the disarmament of other countries while refusing to disarm ourselves?

Through my internship at Our World Peace Park, I have been researching a form of

fostering peace and understanding with other cultures. Our World’s mission is to combat

prejudice through education and promoting an understanding of the cultures of the world.

This semester, I feel that I have been able to tap into my years of study at CSU Monterey

Bay. I have pulled my knowledge from all walks of HCOM to strengthen my understanding of

the shared topic of inquiry: Human Flourishing in a Globally Interdependent world.

For this semester’s capstone class, I choose to explore our shared area of inquiry through

the field of human rights and social justice. I choose to complete the internship option because I

wanted to gain knowledge about the different job opportunities available in the field of peace

studies. My experience at Our World: a Peace Park has opened up my perception of what the

field of Peace Studies related jobs involve.

Through the class readings and handouts which highlighted the various scholars who

write about human flourishing, I was able to grasp the fundamental significance of what it means

45

to flourish and live a full life. The course materials sparked an interest in me to research more

into the topic of human flourishing and to seek out other movements centered on human

flourishing.

These interests lead me to reflect on the similarities between cultures in what they strive

for in a good life. Though what constitutes a successful life differs depending on the values that

are upheld, similarities are never more prevalent than in religion. To an outsider, it may seem

impossible to suggest that someone of the Islamic faith tradition has the same views and wants as

someone of the Christian faith, the key values illustrated in these religious documents all

incorporate a call to treat others as they wish to be treated. Through their vastly different

approaches, they are able to attract more of a variety of people and cultures into the peace

movements.

In order to help Capstone Festival flourish to its best ability, I contributed by

volunteering to be the treasure of the Capstone Committee. Through this role, I tried my best to

represent the interests of the whole class when deciding on how to best spend the funds that were

raised. Though I had my disagreements on a few aspects of the festival, I tried to express myself

in a way that promoted cooperative argumentation and decrement. In the end, I compromised and

listened with an ethic of care to the opinions of my fellow students. Through this experience, I

was able to collaborate with others in a constructive way that insured that all party’s opinions

were listened to and contributed to the festival planning process.

The work that I conducted at my internship site sparked an interest within me to promote

responding to injustice through peaceful means that promote healing and constructive dialogs.

My years at CSU Monterey Bay have shown me the importance of listening to different

perspectives within any given disagreement or tragedy. It was through the diversity of courses

46

that I have taken at CSU Monterey Bay, especially within the HCOM department my sense of

social justice was fostered and I developed my ethic of care that I saw reflected in the scholars

that we analyzed this semester. I found my values and beliefs particularly aligned within the

Dalai Lama’s Ethics for a New Millennium. We are, each of us, called upon to serve the greater

interest of the wellbeing of the human race. How are we to respond in the face of injustice: is it

through waging war to seek retribution for a wrong doing committed against us or through a

sense of justpeace ethics and discernment?

47

Our World to Human Flourishing: Practicing Ethics for a New Millennium

The concept of human flourishing is as old as Aristotle and has undergone many different

transformations depending on a culture’s own values and assumptions. My life experiences,

coursework, and studying abroad have led me to share the Dalai Lama and philosopher Thomas

Hill’s view that human flourishing is the ability for one to fulfill their own sense of purpose in

their community and in turn, the world.

As research has shown, in order to truly flourish, one must feel safe and secure: free to

express themselves in any way that they wish, so long as it does not impede on another’s chance

to flourish. Human flourishing suggests that one is able to uphold and achieve the values that are

most important to them, such as security and avoiding suffering.

In the 21st century, human flourishing can take form in many different aspects of our

lives. On the micro level, human flourishing cannot take place where anger and resentment are

upheld. Anger over long periods of time often risks leading individuals to losing sight of what is

important to them, thus not being able to be happy or contributing to others’ well being.

On the macro level, governments can promote human flourishing by creating and

supporting policies that promote the realization of our interdependence on other cultures and

countries.

I have learned as well that, regardless of culture or creed, the basic philosophy that one

should do unto others as they would have them do unto you is imbedded in every community.

The core values reflected in this shared principle offer the possibility of a foundation for

a universal standard of ethics. As our economies and social interactions become increasingly

globalized, there is a growing awareness of this foundation, that is reflected in calls for greater

48

compassion and understanding for others, as well as the need to develop ethical means of

communication that depart from an ethnocentric way of judging another’s culture.

It has been my experience, through the combination of years of research in Human

Communication courses such as Cooperative Argumentation, Relational Ethics, Restorative

Justice and Service Learning in Social Movements, as well as the many cultural courses in

African/a and Chicana/o Studies, that in order to truly heal and grow in the face of national

tragedy and human rights violations: the path through patience and education offers a better long

term solution than the use of weapons and other forms of aggression.

Though there are many different avenues in which governments, as well as private

entities strive to achieve this shared goal, I have spent this past semester interning for an under

publicized association that promotes cultural understanding through the development of Peace

Parks. I see Our World Peace Park as one more unique venue to nurture world peace as a

possibility, instead of a vague inclination.

The concept of a peace park took flight in South Africa, as a transnational conservation

effort to improve relations between countries. Unfortunately, this dream was postponed until

after the end of the atrocious human rights violations and political suppression of the Apartheid.

Since the Peace Park Foundation was founded in 1997, peace parks have sprung up in every

facet of the world in a wide variety of cultures and environments. The majority of parks are

founded in response to and a way of addressing humanitarian injustice By creating peace parks,

countries choose to commemorate the lives of those taken from this earth because of bigotry and

war.

I remember one particular course, where my professor posed the question: what should

the US do in response to the wrong doing witnessed at Abu Ghraib? In South Africa, there was

49

the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In Germany, the Nuremberg Trials were conducted.

In Nagasaki and Hiroshima, peace parks were erected to honor and remember the tragic loss of

life that took place when the atomic bombs were dropped at the end of World War II. In

Vietnam, another peace park was erected in remembrance of the My Lai Massacre. The

movement to respond to injustice through peace has spread as peace parks sprout up throughout

North and South America, Asia and Europe.

My education and experiences at CSUMB and studying abroad have led me to believe

that in order for a person to be a positive influence in society, they must feel valued and have a

sense of purpose. As Martin Luther King so wisely put it; “An individual has not started living

until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader

concerns of all humanity.”

So, what will you do within your life to contribute to promoting human flourishing?

THANK YOU…PAUSE….

One of the lenses that HCOM offers to explore human flourishing is through Practical

and Professional Ethics as Molly Lasicka will tell you in her Capstone essay project.

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Our World Peace Park. Our World Peace Park. Salinas: Our World Peace

Park, 2010. Print

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Our World Peace Park. Our World Peace Park. Salinas: Our World Peace Park, 2010.

Print

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Our World Peace Park. Our World Peace Park Exhibit. Salinas: Our

World Peace Park, 2007. Print

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Our World Peace Park. Our World Peace Park Exhibit. Salinas: Our World Peace Park,

2007. Print

Our World: Peace as a Globally Interdependent Goal

Documents

Transcript of Our World: Peace as a Globally Interdependent Goal